SIMI ex-chief cleared of promoting communal enmity

A court here on Thursday acquitted the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India's (SIMI) former president Shahid Badr Falahi in a 2001 case of promoting enmity between different groups.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Khanagwal cleared Falahi of charges of promoting enmity between different groups, imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration and statements conducive to public mischief.

His counsel Humam Ahmed Siddiqui told IANS that Falahi was falsely implicated in the case.

Siddiqui said that a case was lodged against Falahi on May 19, 2001, for allegedly posting a sticker having provocative content, which sought to promote enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race on a wall in Jamia Millia Islamia, a central university here.

Falahi was arrested on September 2001 in another case by Delhi Police, which took his custody in the present case in October 2001 and filed a charge sheet in December 2001.

In December 2002, a sessions court discharged him of the offence dealing with sedition but framed other charges including promoting enmity between different groups. He was later released on bail.

Founded in 1977, the SIMI has been banned since 2001, and in February 2014 this was extended for five more years.